Electrical Current Explained - AC DC, fuses, circuit breakers, multimeter, GFCI, ampere
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Date: 2023-11-17
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Comments and reviews: 30
Chris
An electric current is a stream of charged particles, such as electrons or ions, moving through an electrical conductor or space. It is measured as the net rate of flow of electric charge through a surface or into a control volume. The moving particles are called charge carriers, which may be one of several types of particles, depending on the conductor. In electric circuits the charge carriers are often electrons moving through a wire. In semiconductors they can be electrons or holes. In an electrolyte the charge carriers are ions, while in plasma, an ionized gas, they are ions and electrons.
The SI unit of electric current is the ampere, or amp, which is the flow of electric charge across a surface at the rate of one coulomb per second. The ampere (symbol: A) is an SI base unit. Electric current is measured using a device called an ammeter.
Electric currents create magnetic fields, which are used in motors, generators, inductors, and transformers. In ordinary conductors, they cause Joule heating, which creates light in incandescent light bulbs. Time-varying currents emit electromagnetic waves, which are used in telecommunications to broadcast information.
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An electric current is a stream of charged particles, such as electrons or ions, moving through an electrical conductor or space. It is measured as the net rate of flow of electric charge through a surface or into a control volume. The moving particles are called charge carriers, which may be one of several types of particles, depending on the conductor. In electric circuits the charge carriers are often electrons moving through a wire. In semiconductors they can be electrons or holes. In an electrolyte the charge carriers are ions, while in plasma, an ionized gas, they are ions and electrons.
The SI unit of electric current is the ampere, or amp, which is the flow of electric charge across a surface at the rate of one coulomb per second. The ampere (symbol: A) is an SI base unit. Electric current is measured using a device called an ammeter.
Electric currents create magnetic fields, which are used in motors, generators, inductors, and transformers. In ordinary conductors, they cause Joule heating, which creates light in incandescent light bulbs. Time-varying currents emit electromagnetic waves, which are used in telecommunications to broadcast information.
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Austin
So, when it comes to AC alternating current. how is it that it travels to a destination miles away if its constantly alternating. Makes me believe I would be having a v drop due to it having v and then dropping it while traveling miles away why wouldn't I just use DC and always have the same v being sent to destination? Like example if I live 30 miles from Pwr plant how is it that alternating current Pwr changing from 120v to -120v makes its way to my house while constantly changing and why wouldn't I want a constant 120V like direct current?
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So, when it comes to AC alternating current. how is it that it travels to a destination miles away if its constantly alternating. Makes me believe I would be having a v drop due to it having v and then dropping it while traveling miles away why wouldn't I just use DC and always have the same v being sent to destination? Like example if I live 30 miles from Pwr plant how is it that alternating current Pwr changing from 120v to -120v makes its way to my house while constantly changing and why wouldn't I want a constant 120V like direct current?
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Christopher
What IS it that makes the positive and negative terminals of a battery positive and negative? What is it about the battery that creates the difference of 1. 5V? Is it the magnetism?
The illustration at 2: 13 is confusing when in tandem with the narrator's explanation. When he says if we take a copper wire. a battery is brought onto the screen, with no copper wire in sight. The no voltage difference between the two ends illustration shows the voltage-detecting instrument measuring a battery, not a wire.
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What IS it that makes the positive and negative terminals of a battery positive and negative? What is it about the battery that creates the difference of 1. 5V? Is it the magnetism?
The illustration at 2: 13 is confusing when in tandem with the narrator's explanation. When he says if we take a copper wire. a battery is brought onto the screen, with no copper wire in sight. The no voltage difference between the two ends illustration shows the voltage-detecting instrument measuring a battery, not a wire.
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Marvin
At around 11mins he explains that a 1. 5v battery and 1. 5watt bulb needs 1 amp whilst explaining what amps are.
Now I understood everything till this point but this where I struggled at school. I didn't just want to learn I get fixated on asking too many questions. So now I can't move on leabri g till I know why 1amp is needed for 1. 5v battery and 1. 5watt bulb. Like why not 1. 1 or 0. 8 etc?
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At around 11mins he explains that a 1. 5v battery and 1. 5watt bulb needs 1 amp whilst explaining what amps are.
Now I understood everything till this point but this where I struggled at school. I didn't just want to learn I get fixated on asking too many questions. So now I can't move on leabri g till I know why 1amp is needed for 1. 5v battery and 1. 5watt bulb. Like why not 1. 1 or 0. 8 etc?
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Franco
Man, I love Crash Course, but their videos on electricity were flying right over my head, this video series does a much better job at presenting information at a more digestible pace and with clearer examples.
I've been trying on and off for years to get a grasp on electricity concepts but for some reason I couldn't really get it until these videos. Very good work and thanks so much!
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Man, I love Crash Course, but their videos on electricity were flying right over my head, this video series does a much better job at presenting information at a more digestible pace and with clearer examples.
I've been trying on and off for years to get a grasp on electricity concepts but for some reason I couldn't really get it until these videos. Very good work and thanks so much!
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Chris
This is probably a really simple question, but here goes. In the circuit 15: 46, you use a resistor to reduce the current to the desired level. But that seems awfully wasteful; the resistor is radiating away most of the energy stored in the battery (in the form of heat. Is there a smarter way to draw off the exact amount of current that the LED requires, without wasting energy?
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This is probably a really simple question, but here goes. In the circuit 15: 46, you use a resistor to reduce the current to the desired level. But that seems awfully wasteful; the resistor is radiating away most of the energy stored in the battery (in the form of heat. Is there a smarter way to draw off the exact amount of current that the LED requires, without wasting energy?
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Stijn
I think the unit in which you express a Coulomb in this video, and the previous one I watched, is not completely correct. I believe you state that 1 coulomb is expressed as electrons/second, but isn't it supposed to be just electrons? 1 amp is coulomb/second and therefore, electrons/second. If coulomb were electrons/second, amp would be electrons/second/second.
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I think the unit in which you express a Coulomb in this video, and the previous one I watched, is not completely correct. I believe you state that 1 coulomb is expressed as electrons/second, but isn't it supposed to be just electrons? 1 amp is coulomb/second and therefore, electrons/second. If coulomb were electrons/second, amp would be electrons/second/second.
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M22
2: 03 Actually its wrong. We do measure voltage ONLY when current is flowing because there is a small shunt resistor inside the multimeter that measures voltage drop. Additionally, you can prove my word by having a series of Leds then take out one led and measure voltage in its place, the Leds will glow! And multimeter will show a read of power source voltage
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2: 03 Actually its wrong. We do measure voltage ONLY when current is flowing because there is a small shunt resistor inside the multimeter that measures voltage drop. Additionally, you can prove my word by having a series of Leds then take out one led and measure voltage in its place, the Leds will glow! And multimeter will show a read of power source voltage
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Matthew
What's the reason for dynamic power differences between two circuits ran in parallel? I do a lot of speaker installs and whenever I find some subs that come factory ran in parallel there's always a power difference. This is not a power difference that I necessarily test for but I can visibly see the difference even though the speakers are identical.
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What's the reason for dynamic power differences between two circuits ran in parallel? I do a lot of speaker installs and whenever I find some subs that come factory ran in parallel there's always a power difference. This is not a power difference that I necessarily test for but I can visibly see the difference even though the speakers are identical.
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Rafal
At timestamp 12: 55 there are two bulbs in series with a 1. 5v battery illustrated. How does this work? AC or DC. I thought that DC is supposed to be one terminal to (-) and one to (+) otherwise it won't work. Plus the current is not 'alternating' in the animation. Later on though you have the lamps in parallel which is the right way DC works. Thanks.
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At timestamp 12: 55 there are two bulbs in series with a 1. 5v battery illustrated. How does this work? AC or DC. I thought that DC is supposed to be one terminal to (-) and one to (+) otherwise it won't work. Plus the current is not 'alternating' in the animation. Later on though you have the lamps in parallel which is the right way DC works. Thanks.
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T33K4Y
not doing engineering nor do i plan on doing engineering any time soon, just thought i'd get my bearings on AC&DC since i never understod in schol, ever. idk why i found it so hard to understand back then, but in the span of a few minutes i can confidently say i know what AC&DC stand for and explain it in my own words. thank you for these videos.
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not doing engineering nor do i plan on doing engineering any time soon, just thought i'd get my bearings on AC&DC since i never understod in schol, ever. idk why i found it so hard to understand back then, but in the span of a few minutes i can confidently say i know what AC&DC stand for and explain it in my own words. thank you for these videos.
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Damp
im looking into trade options for employment and decided to learn about electricity on a whim since electricion is a trade on my list and i never expected to be so newly fascinated by it lol. i thought i was gonna be going through the ringer trying to understand these videos, but these are actually so fun to watch
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im looking into trade options for employment and decided to learn about electricity on a whim since electricion is a trade on my list and i never expected to be so newly fascinated by it lol. i thought i was gonna be going through the ringer trying to understand these videos, but these are actually so fun to watch
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Daryl
How does one calculate the watts being used in a 240V split system using a clamp Amp meter? For example, when my AC comes on I measure 14. 4A on the L1 line and 10. 3A on the L2 line. Does this add up to 1728W (120V x 14. 4A) on L1 and 1236W on L2 (120V x 10. 3A) = 2964W being used by the AC?
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How does one calculate the watts being used in a 240V split system using a clamp Amp meter? For example, when my AC comes on I measure 14. 4A on the L1 line and 10. 3A on the L2 line. Does this add up to 1728W (120V x 14. 4A) on L1 and 1236W on L2 (120V x 10. 3A) = 2964W being used by the AC?
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Scott
Great videos! Thank you. I noticed twice now you present the Coulomb unit as a rate of electron flow which is inaccurate. 1 Coulomb is simply 6. 2B electrons. 1 Amp is 1 Coulomb per second, or 6. 2B electrons per second, of current flow. I suspect you have received this feedback from others.
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Great videos! Thank you. I noticed twice now you present the Coulomb unit as a rate of electron flow which is inaccurate. 1 Coulomb is simply 6. 2B electrons. 1 Amp is 1 Coulomb per second, or 6. 2B electrons per second, of current flow. I suspect you have received this feedback from others.
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Color
I never learned that it's - to +, and after 20+ years of wiring things, I learned something new.
Thanks
That's pretty crazy how we get comfortable w/ learning something the wrong way and so we just ignore the problem
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I never learned that it's - to +, and after 20+ years of wiring things, I learned something new.
Thanks
That's pretty crazy how we get comfortable w/ learning something the wrong way and so we just ignore the problem
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Dragan
In the last slide, you are talking about RCDs in the home network, right? If yes, the home network is actually supplied by the AC, while the rest of this presentation refers to DC - could you please clarify this.
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In the last slide, you are talking about RCDs in the home network, right? If yes, the home network is actually supplied by the AC, while the rest of this presentation refers to DC - could you please clarify this.
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Natty
Pls can someone help me out
Is the battery causing the free electrons in the copper wire to flow in one direction or is the electrons flowing from the negative terminal of the battery to the positive terminal
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Pls can someone help me out
Is the battery causing the free electrons in the copper wire to flow in one direction or is the electrons flowing from the negative terminal of the battery to the positive terminal
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Brett
These videos are so well done. The visual examples help my ADHD brain visualize what's being explained and understand it instead of getting lost in a bunch of lecturing and bullet points. Thank you for this!
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These videos are so well done. The visual examples help my ADHD brain visualize what's being explained and understand it instead of getting lost in a bunch of lecturing and bullet points. Thank you for this!
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Fahmi
Hi, sir, why does the magnitude of the electric current flowing in a series circuit at each point have the same magnitude.
isn't it before crossing the lamp, the electric current has no resistance.
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Hi, sir, why does the magnitude of the electric current flowing in a series circuit at each point have the same magnitude.
isn't it before crossing the lamp, the electric current has no resistance.
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Carnage
This makes so much sense! I'm planning on becoming an engineer, so I find this stuff so fascinating. Once you figure out the basics like electrical current, the complex stuff starts to make sense.
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This makes so much sense! I'm planning on becoming an engineer, so I find this stuff so fascinating. Once you figure out the basics like electrical current, the complex stuff starts to make sense.
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Vince
Great video, very well explained, but can anyone explain why the current from 1. 5v battery increases to 3 amps when the 2nd lamp, with 1 ohm resistance, is added in parallel plz
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Great video, very well explained, but can anyone explain why the current from 1. 5v battery increases to 3 amps when the 2nd lamp, with 1 ohm resistance, is added in parallel plz
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Rytro
ive got a question: Why do batteries lose electricity even tho the electrons are going in a loop? shouldnt the electricity stay the same at all times because of that?
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ive got a question: Why do batteries lose electricity even tho the electrons are going in a loop? shouldnt the electricity stay the same at all times because of that?
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Chris
17: 17: I'm not sure I follow. If you add more load (resistance) to the circuit, wouldn't you expect the current to fall assuming that mains voltage is constant?
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17: 17: I'm not sure I follow. If you add more load (resistance) to the circuit, wouldn't you expect the current to fall assuming that mains voltage is constant?
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Chris
I am about to start studying electrical engineering in 2 weeks and I literally learned what is taught in the first 2 years of that school in the span of 2 days
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I am about to start studying electrical engineering in 2 weeks and I literally learned what is taught in the first 2 years of that school in the span of 2 days
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Scoopta
I hate conventional current. mainly because I like being as accurate as possible, I'm a bit of a pedant. and it endlessly annoys me that it's still used: /
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I hate conventional current. mainly because I like being as accurate as possible, I'm a bit of a pedant. and it endlessly annoys me that it's still used: /
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Duka9X
If you have a GPS sensor for your Arduino, could you connect your multimeter to the VCC pin and to the GND pin of the sensor? Would that show a voltage?
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If you have a GPS sensor for your Arduino, could you connect your multimeter to the VCC pin and to the GND pin of the sensor? Would that show a voltage?
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Russell
1: 18 graphic show both cables as uninsulated, one is safe and the ufva cable is unsafe, if they both are uninsulated they should bof be unsafe?
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1: 18 graphic show both cables as uninsulated, one is safe and the ufva cable is unsafe, if they both are uninsulated they should bof be unsafe?
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Derrick
It's NEVER too late to change battery labels. They can do it. We can change anything we want to. Everyone just has to be on the same page.
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It's NEVER too late to change battery labels. They can do it. We can change anything we want to. Everyone just has to be on the same page.
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Charlie
think of it while you are IN the water to! get your toaster and magnifying glass out then hop in!
ps don't forget to bring a towel
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think of it while you are IN the water to! get your toaster and magnifying glass out then hop in!
ps don't forget to bring a towel
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SirRandomGuy[RG]
High voltage rock 'n' roll
High voltage rock 'n' roll
High voltage, high voltage
High voltage rock 'n' roll
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High voltage rock 'n' roll
High voltage rock 'n' roll
High voltage, high voltage
High voltage rock 'n' roll
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